Illinois Supreme Court Overturns Jussie Smollett's Conviction, Citing Improper Second Prosecution

Nov 21, 2024, 03:52 PM

In a significant ruling on Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court unanimously overturned the conviction of actor Jussie Smollett for an alleged 2019 hoax hate crime. Smollett, known for his role on the television show "Empire," was convicted in December 2021 on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a hate crime against himself. The Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors improperly charged Smollett a second time after the Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office initially dismissed the charges. The court addressed whether a dismissal of a case by nolle prosequi allows the state to bring charges again, ultimately deciding in Smollett's favor. Smollett's attorney, Mark Geragos, hailed the decision, stating that the prosecution was a "vindictive persecution" and had "no place in our criminal justice system." The court acknowledged the significant public interest in the case and noted concerns over the fairness of the original proceedings. The ruling means that Smollett's convictions are overturned and his case will be dismissed.